sme challengeslatest news & developments
More often, employees leave because of workplace experiences that make them feel undervalued, overlooked or disconnected from the business.

Leadership mistakes that quietly drive talent away from SMEs

More often, employees leave because of workplace experiences that make them feel undervalued, overlooked or disconnected from the business.

Khayelitsha Cookies is owned by former Shoprite employees Adri Williams and Eunice Nyobole. They have turned it into a thriving baking business with 87 employees, that is devoted to empowering women. Its range includes mouthwatering hand-baked Strawberry Flavoured Cookies with White Chocolate Chips, and scrumptious Lemon Flavoured Cookies.

South Africa’s SMMEs are surviving, but struggling to scale

South Africa’s small businesses are surviving. Why aren’t more of them growing?

Lomo Senoamadi founded Bashumi Instruments and Control Services in 2003 and has spent more than two decades building a technical business serving laboratories and essential industries across South Africa.

How Lomo Senoamadi built BICS into a South African laboratory-services business

Lomo Senoamadi founded Bashumi Instruments and Control Services in 2003. She reflects on building the South African laboratory-services business through technical expertise,…

South Africa’s SME funding gap is creating opportunities for smaller investment managers offering flexible capital, specialist expertise and longer-term support.

The rise of emerging managers in South Africa’s SME funding market

South Africa’s SME funding gap is creating opportunities for smaller investment managers offering flexible capital, specialist expertise and longer-term support.

Margie La Grange with her daughter, Paula Karnasopoulos, the founders of Badoodoo.

From idea to established brand: How Badoodoo is growing South Africa’s dog wellness market

Badoodoo’s journey from a simple idea to an established South African dog wellness brand highlights the patience, adaptability and resilience required to build a successful SME.

Recent disputes involving guide dogs and service animals have exposed gaps in disability awareness among South African businesses, with experts warning that poor staff training could result in discrimination, legal consequences and reputational damage.

South African businesses warned: service animal access is a legal responsibility, not a choice

Recent disputes involving guide dogs and service animals have exposed gaps in disability awareness among South African businesses, with experts warning that poor staff training…

Heritage is more than something to preserve, argues Tsakani Nkombyane—it can inspire South African businesses, products and ideas that compete in global markets.

Our heritage, our future: why entrepreneurship matters

Heritage is more than something to preserve, argues Tsakani Nkombyane—it can inspire South African businesses, products and ideas that compete in global markets.

Tanya du Bois is the owner and founder of her cosmetics company Naturals Beauty.

From a kitchen solution to an award winning beauty business

Tanya du Bois started making skincare products in her kitchen to help her family. Eighteen years later, Naturals Beauty is an award winning South African business with ambitions…

Brent Blankfield, investment executive, at Westbrooke.

Westbrooke invests R750m to empower South African entrepreneurs

Discover how Westbrooke’s investment of over R750 million is shaping the future for South Africa’s entrepreneurial businesses, providing them with the capital and support needed…

Discover how South African SMEs can navigate the festive season's challenges with effective operational planning and avoid common pitfalls that could impact their success.

Don't let these operational mistakes spoil your festive season

Discover how South African SMEs can navigate the festive season's challenges with effective operational planning and avoid common pitfalls that could impact their success.

Despite starting businesses at similar rates to men, South African women face significant hurdles that hinder their enterprises from thriving. Discover the barriers they encounter and the economic impact of losing women-owned businesses.

South African women start businesses, so why do so few scale?

Despite starting businesses at similar rates to men, South African women face significant hurdles that hinder their enterprises from thriving. Discover the barriers they…

In a significant shift for South African businesses, Meta will start charging for customer service messages on WhatsApp, creating potential challenges ahead. Discover how to adapt with effective strategies to manage costs before the changes take effect.

Meta to charge businesses for customer service on WhatsApp from October

In a significant shift for South African businesses, Meta will start charging for customer service messages on WhatsApp, creating potential challenges ahead. Discover how to…

Discover how Liesl Smerdon transformed her passion for natural haircare into Curl Chemistry, a thriving South African brand now stocked at a major retailer in the country, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Embracing natural beauty: The journey of Curl Chemistry

Discover how Liesl Smerdon transformed her passion for natural haircare into Curl Chemistry, a thriving South African brand now stocked at a major retailer in the country,…

Moving from R5 million to R100 million in revenue requires more than sales growth. South African founders need to evolve their leadership, build scalable systems and introduce tighter financial controls.

Why SA scale-ups stall before R100m

Experts explain how founders can break through the growth barrier.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mistakenly believe that growth requires adding complexity. Discover why operational simplicity is the true key to sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

Why operational simplicity is a competitive advantage for SMEs

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mistakenly believe that growth requires adding complexity. Discover why operational simplicity is the true key to sustainable…

In South Africa's booming ICT sector, the race is on to bridge the gap between contract wins and payments. Discover how strategic funding can empower SMEs to overcome cash flow challenges and seize new opportunities in the evolving tech landscape.

Closing the payment gap: how ICT SMEs can thrive

In South Africa's booming ICT sector, the race is on to bridge the gap between contract wins and payments. Discover how strategic funding can empower SMEs to overcome cash flow…